Chapter I - Nothing but Riddles

I'm an idiot.

Making hasty decisions during a time of grief was never a good idea. Here I am stuck in the middle of nowhere without even Ryker's scent to trace. 

To top it off? I forgot my grimoire at home. Granted, I didn't think I could have gotten it, or even stepped in that house without completely falling apart. Let alone have the balls to leave everything behind on suicide mission to find my lover. We had memories, everywhere. The book was in our bedroom. There is no way I would have even made it down the hall. An idiot, truly.

Deep in the forest, the air grew thicker and the grass dewier as dawn began to break the surface of the horizon. Sure, the illumination increased my ability to see, but I still faced the dilemma of having no idea where I was going. If only I could remember the Finder's Spell, I wouldn't be in this mess a second longer. 

"If it is a lesson you seek, find the riddle in the words I speak," a voice whispered lightly, carried only by the slight wind rustling the leaves. Why bother looking for someone to match the voice? Hearing it alone, I knew exactly where I was. 

"Not a lesson, my lover!" I called out to noting but trees, stopping my endless trudge through the forest. If I made it here, I had walked nearly twenty miles.

"A lover there, a lover near, which of your lovers do you search for here?"

Lovers? Lover. One. Singular. Uno. 

"I know no other lovers, but one: Ryker Wells."

"Ryker Wells, Ryker Wells, in the Land of Forbidden Spells."

Land of Forbidden Spells. That's the land of the unknown, that's where Ryker went. Where all witches go to die. But it said in the land of Forbidden Spells. The wastes was more like it. Where though? It was large, spanned for miles.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"Cosmo, Griffin, Ezra, Wesley,...Sylus, Nolan, Ryker, or Gentry?"

"Ryker!" Ryker damn it!

"Ryker Wells, Ryker Wells, wandering the halls of Tower Fells."

Tower Fells? I've never heard of it. 

"Please? Can you help me find Ryker?"

"Is that a favor you ask of me? The price of answers do not come free," the voice had a warning lilt to it. 

Would I risk myself or others for the price of an answer? 

"What price?"

"Your answer is my price, solve my riddle where only one answer will suffice. What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?"

As a young boy, I always had an uncanny talent with solving riddles. Any one that was thrown at me, would be answer in at least five minutes. After a while, people grew bored and stopped bothering to ask me any. It had been years since I'd indulged in solving the puzzles. However, this one was too easy.

And if I dn't, finding Ryker will be impossible. I had to at least try, there was nothing I could lose. 

"Your mind, your mind, has all the Spells. All that's needed to find Ryker Wells."

My mind has all the spells...Was my ability to solve riddles just a spell? That Spell came naturally to me and if I could do it then, then I could do it now. So how did I do it before?

Break down the sentence.

That's right! And the relating word would simply transpire to the mind!

What always runs but never walks?

A stream.

Often murmur, never talks?

The rush of water.

Has a bed but never sleeps?

A riverbed.

Has a mouth but never eats? 

Well a stream of water always leads to a bigger body of water. The opening is called a mouth. So if I apply that to my surroundings. What do they all have in common? Water. What type of body of water fits all categories?

A river; then that's my answer.

"A river."

"Follow the river until the end, where it breaks but never bends."

With those last words of departure, I knew that the voice was gone now and I was on my own. 

So my answer was a river? But there is no river to be seen, at least from what I was aware of. What river should I follow if there is no river that even exists?

As if to answer my mental question, a bright light temporarily blinded me, bringing my attention to a certain direction. Hopefully, this was the forest leading the way. 

I ran in search of that light and stumbled upon not only a river, but a man. One extremely beautiful man. Perched on a stone raised high amid the rushing river, he fiddled with a peach blossom flower that fell from the trees overhead. Hundreds of petals washed away down the bank but just one stayed between his long nimble fingers. Impossibly long blonde hair waved down his back, only some falling forward to cover his most private part between his legs and assorted flowers were twisted into a crown atop his head. Pointed ears poked from beneath his locks and golden skin glistened in the sun's early rays. 

Who was he?

"Excuse me!" I called out to him.

The man jumped in surprise nearly falling into the water before turning and glaring at me. Seeing him full on made me appreciate those full red lips, high cheek bones, and gorgeous amber eyes. What a creature he was!

"I'm sorry for startling you, but can you help me? I'm looking for the Land of Forbidden Spells. If you could just point me in the right direction, that would be great."

His lip pulled up in a sneer meant to be ugly but came out to be absolutely beautiful just like the rest of him. "And why should I help you?"

"Because it would be the kind thing to do."

"A shame that I'm not a kind man."

"Come now, that can't be true."

The man smiled now, but it was not meant to be warming, more on the cruel side. Why he didn't like me so much, I did not know. Maybe it's an ego thing and I scared him so his pride is wounded. Yet that seems so far fetched.

"My name is Noah Kismet. You are?"

"None of your business, now leave me alone," he snapped, sliding off the rock into the water. He disappeared beneath the surface, but I could still see his golden locks running along with the current. I guess that's the direction I'm going to head.

Following the river like the forest said led me to a city. One I had no clue the name of or that it even existed. Yet there was so much activity and life buzzing around, I was curious. So entranced by the diverse creatures and tall buildings, I forgot about the elf that led me here. 

"Are you following me?" a voice sneered. Oh never mind, found him. But he was dressed this time, in tight brown leather pants tucked into high lace up boots and a cream cotton long sleeved shirt that fit perfectly against his sculpted chest. Brown leather suspenders were just an accessory because it was clear his pants were in no need of support.

"At first, but then I got side tracked. Mind telling me where we are?" I asked gazing at a faerie with long corn yellow locks and matching wings. She glanced at me as she flew by with a suggestive smile. Maybe if I were straight, that would have been quite appealing. Since I'm not, it was a lost cause. Shame, she was rather pretty, I must admit.

"Stop following me," he growled.

"Nonsense, I need to find my lover. Ryker Wells."

"Ez! Long time no see!" a voice boomed from behind us. The elf whipped around in time to be yanked into a gruff hug by a warrior. 

"Cornel, now is not the time."

"Sure it is, Ezra! I never see you anymore!" So his name is Ezra? Why does that sound so familiar?

Cosmo, Griffin, Ezra, Wesley,...Sylus, Nolan, Ryker, or Gentry.

The voice named my supposed "lovers" and Ezra was one of them. Was this elf the man he was talking about?

"Another victim of yours? You bad boy you," The warrior teased nodding at me after putting "Ezra" down on his feet.

"He is not! He's a stalker!" he protested causing me to snort.

"I would be too after such a wild time. What's your name?" Cornel asked me. I offered him a smile.

"Noah, Noah Kismet."

Cornel held out his hand which I grasped firmly in a hearty shake. "Cornel Jerald. Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise. Mind telling me where we are?"

"We're in the Collis!"

"Collis?"

"Oh, you're a foreigner? Well welcome to our city! I hope you enjoy your stay. Unfortunately I can't stay and chat, got a gorlic to catch. I'll see you around! Bye, Ez! Be a good boy now!" Cornel waved as he walked off.

"He seems nice," I noted thoughtfully. Perhaps I should have asked him about Ryker.

"Stop following me, I mean it," Ezra snapped as soon as Cornel disappeared.

"I'm sorry, but I just...really need help. I need to find my lover's body. He ventured off to the Land of Forbidden Spells and I need to find him. I need to," desperation leaked into my voice which had me quietly swearing. I didn't mean to get emotional, I was doing so well at hiding it.

"You're serious?" he asked looking surprised.

"You thought I was lying?" I spat angrily. Who would lie about something like that?

"People do the craziest things just to sleep with me."

"Sleep with you? I'm in love with someone else! And I'm trying to find him!" 

Ezra stared at me intently for a few moments then sighed. "Come with me." Taking my hand he pulled me along down the street.

"Where are we going?" I asked, stumbling along behind him.

"My house."